Kessel excited by 'fresh start' with Penguins

NHL.com | July 2, 2015

Phil Kessel hasn't missed a game five seasons, but he always felt like they ended too early. He expects that is about to change.

The nine-year veteran spent the past six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.

"Being in Toronto, I got to play in one playoffs in all my years there," Kessel told reporter Dejan Kovacevic on Thursday. "But that's the best time of the year, right? Playoff hockey. Hopefully, I'll get to play in many in Pittsburgh."

Pittsburgh acquires Kessel in trade with Toronto Analysis: Kessel trade begins Maple Leafs' rebuild Penguins excited to add Kessel's skill on the wing Shanahan continues shakeup of Maple Leafs core Kapanen, Harrington add to Toronto's young cadre Pens GM Jim Rutherford | Trade breakdown NHL Trade Tracker | Free agent signings tracker

Kessel, 27, was traded with forward Tyler Biggs and defenseman Tim Erixon to Pittsburgh for forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Nick Spaling, defenseman Scott Harrington, and two conditional draft picks.